At Samsung Unpacked 2019, Samsung launched the S10 series of phones. However, Samsung made no mention of a new version of Gear VR at the event, which raised the question: will the S10 series even be compatible with the Gear VR?

The most recent version of Gear VR is stated to be compatible with Galaxy S6 through S9+, and the Note 8, with no mention of the S10 series or Note 9. So are the S10 phone or Note 9 compatible with the Gear VR?

According to Samsung, the answer is YES, the most recent version of the Gear VR — the 2017 Samsung Gear VR (SM-R325NZVAXAR) can work with the S10 series or Note 9 with a special adapter. If you want a Gear VR adapter for your S10 series or Note 9 phone, you can get one free of charge by calling 1-800-SAMSUNG.

I did order an S10+ and I’m curious to see how much better the Snapdragon 855 is on the Gear VR. I’ll be comparing the S10+ with the S8+ (Snapdragon 835).

Does Samsung S10+ work with Samsung Gear VR?

UPDATE: I now have the S10+ and I’m pleased to report that the S10+ works with the 2017 Samsung Gear VR (SM-R324) without any problems, and without the need for a special adapter. I just used the same USB Type C connector that I was using with my S8+. The S10+ fits normally in the Gear VR. The only thing I noticed was that the ceramic black S10+ was noticeably heavier (198 grams) than my S8+ (173 grams), so the Gear VR felt front-heavy. The glass model S10+ has about the same weight (175 grams) as the S8+.

BTW, if you are looking for a Samsung S10+ case that is protective and at the same time easy to remove and reinstall, I recommend the Otterbox Commuter available for S10, S10+, or S10e. I used the Commuter on my S8+, which I’ve accidentally dropped a few times over the past couple of years with no damage. The Commuter for S10+ fits about the same, although when I reinstall it, sometimes the rubber on one corner has to be adjusted a bit.